Folding brush



1,631,011 May 31 1927- J, F. coNNOR FOLDING BRUSH Filed Dec. 1, 1925 2 Sheets- 1 May 31, 1927.

J. F. CONNOR FOLDING BRUSH Filed 1925 .zsnms snea 2 gwuemtoz mew 670172701? Patented May 31, 1927.

UNITED STATES JAMES FREDERIC CONNOR, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

FOLDING BRUSH.

Application filed December 1, 1925. Serial No. 72,559.

This invention relates to foldable brushes, and particularly to certain improvements upon the brush illustrated in my pending application for patent, filed January 15, 1925, Serial #2644.

The general object of this invention is to provide a toilet case having disposed in connection therewith a brush so mounted in the case that the bristles may be turned down'into an approximately. parallelor slightly angular relation to the back of the case and be thereby housed or that the bristles may be turned into a position at right angles to the back for use, the case being so constrmrted as to provide a pocket for a comb a pocket for a nail file, and provide a mirror. 7

More specifically, the objects of my present invention are to improve upon the means for supporting and mounting the bristles whereby the bristles may be clamped tightly in position and will be less liable to be pulled out or drop out from the bristle supports. 7

A further specific object is to provide means for positively locking the oscillatable bristle supports with the bristles either in a lowered position orin an erect position.

Another object is to so support the bristles that one row of bristles will be in staggered relation to the next adjacent rows so that the bristles will lie flat and compact within the case and thus permit the case to be relatively shallow and yet secure proper protection for the bristles.

Still another object is to improve upon the means whereby the bristle supporting members are rocked to carry the bristles from their folded to their erect position or vice versa.

Other objects have to do with the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will appear more fully hereinafter.

My invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a brush constructed in accordance with my invention showing the bristles folded; I

Figure 2 is a like view to Figure 1 but showing the bristles erected;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 2;

I View Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view looking toward the back of the case;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective of one end of the case showing the means whereby the bristle holders are oscillated;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view through the wall of the case, the bristle holders being removed, and showing the means for locking the bristle oscillating bar with the bristles projected;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the button and allied parts separated from each other;

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view of the bristle holders at right angles to their lengths, showing the manner in which the bristles are nested Referring to these drawings, 10 designates a case which may be preferably made of metal, though I do not wish to be limited to this as other materials might be used for the purpose such as relatively stifi leather, papier mach, celluloid or the like. This case is so formed as to receive a mirror 11 and one end of the case is cut away at two points so as to form the entrance to two longitudinally extending pockets. 12 and 13 which extend behind the mirror and within which a comb and nail file may be disposed.

The back of these two pockets is constituted by a wall 14 extending rearward ofth'e mirror and parallel thereto, which wall maybe of flexible material, such as leather, or may be made in any suitable manner. One side of the case is open. The sheet metal from which the case is made is upwardly extended at the sides and then turned inward and at one end the sheet metal is upwardly extended and then inwardly and downwardly, as at 15. This downwardly turned wall of the flange 15 is "formed with a plurality of perforations 16 to receive the ends of the bristle holders, as will be more fully described later.

The opposite end of the casehas an upwardly and inwardly extending wall 17 and the downwardly extending flange 18. This wall 17 or the flange 18 is preferably a separate piece from the back of the case and applied thereto by riveting, soldering or otherwise in order to permit the parts of the brush to be assembled. I do not wish to be limited to this, however. The wall 15, as before stated, is formed with a perforation 16 and the wall 18 with like perforations 19, and oscillating in these perfora-.

tions are the extremities of the bristleholding rods 20. These bristle holders 20 each consist of an initially U-shaped strip of metal, as shown in Figure 6, perforated at intervals for the passage of the bristles 21. -The opening in the U-shaped strip is downward, that is, toward the back of the case. The extremities of each strip are compressed so as to form cylindrical bearing portions at the ends of each strip which are inserted through and have hearing in the apertures 16 and 19.

Between the bristles, as illustrated in 1gure 6, the side walls of each strip constltuting the bristle holders 20 are forced inward,

as at 22, so that the bristles are firmly gripped between these side walls and held in position. By reason of the fact that the bristle holder 1s U-shaped in cross section, the inner end of each tuft of bristles may be readily held and locked in place either by a long1tudinal member which extends the whole len h of the bristle holder and which engages t e folded ends of all of the tufts of bristles or by any other suitable means. Each of the bristle holders at one end is upwardly turned at 22, this angle end being disposed at an angle of about 45 to the plane of the corresponding bristles, as shown in Figure 6. This u wardly angledend extends into the space etween the end wall 17 and the wall 18 and all of these upwardly extending ends of the several bristle holders are engaged by an oscillating bar 23 havin a vertica bodyportion and inwardly turne parallel flanges 24 and 25. The flange 25 rests upon the bottom or back of the case and extends beneath the several extremities of the bristle holders, as shown in Figure 6, while the flange 24 is notched at intervals, as at 26, to receive the angled ends 22 of the bristle holders.

It will be obvious now that if the bar 23 be shifted in one direction, the bristle holders will be shifted so as to carry the bristles into. a position approximately parallel .to the back, whereas if the bar is shifted in the opposite direction the bristle holders will be turned so as to carry the bristles into a position at right angles to the back. The bar 23 has an outwardly projecting pin 27 which extends through the end wall 17 and is struck up from wall 23. Disposed upon the exterior of the wall 17 is a button 28 which has a central aperture, and disposed over the pin 27 is a stamped cap 29 which extends through the aperture of the button and has a base flange 30 which is disposed inward of the wall 17. The cap is slotted at 31. The button 28 is held in place by a transverse pin 32 which is disposed throu h the slot of the cap 29, thus )ermitting tie cap to be shifted inward in ependently of the button and of the pin 27.

For the purpose of locking the shiftable bar 23, I provide a bowed spring 33, the

extremities of which bear a ainst the shiftspring so that when this cap 30 is forcedinward the spring will be flattened and will disen age from the detent 35 and thus permit t. e button 28 to be shifted in a direction to carry the bar 23in turn in a direction to cause the bristles to lie down against each other. It is obvious that a second detent like the detent 35 might be provided in the end wall of the case to engage the spring when the bristles are in their depressed position, but ordinarily this is not necessary as the frictional engagement of the sprin with the end Wall is suflicient to hold the ristles in theirdepressed position and it is only necessary to hold the bristles in their erect position.

It will be noted from Figure 6 that the bristle apertures in each rod 20 are disposed in staggered relation to the bristle apertures in t e next adjacent rods 20 so that thus the bristles are in staggered relation, and that the bristle tufts of one holder will fit into the depressions in the next adj aeent holder and between the bristles in the next adjacent holder, thus allowing the bristles to lie much flatter than would otherwise be the case. In fact, this construction permits the bristles to lie parallel to the back of the case. 7

It will be obvious that this collapsible brush and toilet set may be made up in various sizes as, for instance, a relatively small size for ladies use, a vest pocket size, a larger size for travelers use, and even in a size suitable for a clothes brush. While I have illustrated the oscillating brush holders as extending longitudinally of the case and while this is parti ularly necessary for small brushes, yet in t e clothes brush size it would probably be best to have the rows of bristle holders running crosswise of the case. While the case might be made of leather or other suitable material, preferably the case will be made of material which will not be injured by water, thus permitting the brush to be washed.

While I have-illustrated certain details of construction and arran ement of parts, I do not wish to be limited t iereto as it is obvious that many minor changes might be made without departin from the spirit of the inin the appended claims.

tles extending through said perforations in a direction away from said back, and means for oscillating the bristle holders. v

2. An artlcle of the character described comprising a case having back and side walls, a plurality of oscillatable bristle holders extending parallel to each other and to one of the side walls, each bristle holder being U-shaped in cross section and having its opening facing the back of the case and being perforated at intervals, tufts of bristles disposed through said perforations and projecting away from the back, the bristle holders between said tufts of erforations being compressed and each brlstle holder having cylindrical end portions extending through and having bearing in opposite walls of the case, and means for simultaneously oscillatin all of said bristle holders to carry the bristles either into a projected position or a depressed position.

3. An article of the character described comprising a case having a back and side walls, a plurality of oscillatable bristle holders extending parallel to each other and to one of said walls, each bristle holder being U-shaped in. cross section and having its open side disposed toward the back of the case and being perforated at intervals and having cylindrical end portions extending through and having bearing in opposite walls of the case, tufts of bristles disposed through the apertures of each holder, the tufts on one holder being staggered with relation to the tufts on the next adjacent holder, each holder having depressed portions between its tufts of bristles and said depressed portions on one holder accommodating the bristles on the next adjacent holder when the bristles are turned into approximately parallel position.

4. An article of the character described comprising a case having a back and side walls, the opposite walls of the case being in wardly turned and having a flange extending toward the back, the flange being perforated at intervals, a'plurality of oscillatable bristle holders disposed in parallel relation to each other and having ends extending through the perforations in said flanges and oscillatable therein, tufts of bristles carried by said bristle holders, one extremity of each bristle holder being angled, a bar disposed between one wall of the case and the arallel flange and engaging with the angu ar ends of the bristle holders to cause anoscillationof the bristle holders when the bar is longitudinally shifted, a button disposed upon the exterior of the case and engaging said barto shift it, and releasable means for positively locking the bar in a position with the tufts of bristles extending at right anglesto the back.

5. An article of the character described comprising a case having a back and side walls, the opposite walls of the case being inwardly turned and having a flange extending toward the back, the flange being perforated at intervals, a plurality of oscillatable bristle holders disposed in parallel relation to each other and having'ends extending through the perforations in said flanges and oscillatable therein, tufts of bristles carried by said bristle holders, one extremity of each bristle holder being angled, a bar disposed between one Wall of the case and the parallel flange and engaging with the angular ends of the bristle holders to cause an oscillation of the bristle holders when the bar is longitudinally shifted, a button disposed upon the exterior of the case and engaging said bar to shift it, releasable means for positively locking the bar in position with the tufts of bristles extending at right angles to the back including a spring operatively carried by said bar and bearing against the end wall of the case, the spring having a detent and the end wall of the case having a coacting detent engaging with each other when the bristles are in an erect position, and means for depressing the spring to release the engagement between said detents.

6. An article of the character described comprising a case having a back and side walls, the opposite walls of the case being inwardly turned and then flanged toward the back of the case; said flanges being formed with perforations, bristle holders having end portions disposed in said perforations and oscillatable therein,'each bristle holder having an angular end disposed between one of said flanges and the corresponding wall of the case, tufts of bristles carried by said holders, a channel-shaped bar-disposed between the last named end wall and the last named flange, the channel-shaped bar having one flange formed with notches engaging said angular ends of the bristle holdem and a flange extending beneath the ends of the bristle holders, and a pin extending from said bar through the adjacent outer wall of the case whereby said bar may be oscillated.

7. An article of the character described comprising a case'having a back and side walls, the opposite walls of the case being inward] turned and then flanged toward the bacc of the case, said flanges being formed with perforations, bristle holdershaving end portions disposed in said perforations and oscillatable therein, each bristle holder having an an ular end disposed between one of said anges and the. corresponding wall of the case, tufts of bristles carried by said holders, a channelshaped bar disposed bet-ween the last named end wall and the last named flange the channel-shaped bar having one flange formed with notches engaging said angular ends of the bristle holders and a flange extending beneath the ends of the bristle holders, a pin extending from said bar throu h the adjacent outer wall of the case where y said bar may be oscillated, and means car- 'ried by said bar for locking the bar in position with its bristle holders supporting the bristles in an erect position.

8. An article of the character described comprising a case having a back and side walls, the opposite wallsof the case being inwardly turned and then flanged toward the back of the case, said flanges being formed ,with perforations, bristle holders having end portions disposed in said perforations and oscillatable therein, each bristle holder having an an ular end disposed between one of said fl anges and the corresponding wall of the ease, tufts of bristles carried by said holders, 9. channelshaped bar disposed between the last named end wall and the last named flange, the channel-shaped bar having one flange formed with notches engaging said angular endsof the bristle holders and a flange extending beneaths the ends of the'bristle holders, a pin extending from said bar throu h the adjacent outer wall of the case where y said bar may be oscillated, means carried by said bar for locking the bar in position with its bristleholders' supporting the bristles in .an erect position comprising a bowed spring bearing at its ends against the bar and at its middle against the adjacent wall of the case, the middle of said spring being formed with a detent and the case being formed with'a detent, a pin passing through said spring, a button surrounding the pin, and a cap engaging over the pin and through the button and having its inner end engageable with said spring, the cap projecting beyond the button and being inwardly movable independently of the button and pm to force the middle portion of the spring and its detent out of engagement with the detent in the wall of the case.

9. An article of the character described comprising a case having a back and side walls, opposite walls of the case being inwardly extended and then flanged toward the back, the flan es being formed with perforations, bristle olders oscillatabl mounted in said erforations and exten in parallel to eac other, one end of each ristle holder being angularly bent and disposed between a flange and the corresponding outer wall of the case, tuft-s of bristles car-Q ried by said bristle holders, a bar having notches engaging said angles ends of the bristle holders and disposed between the last named flan e and the last named wall of the case, a pin attached to said bar and extending out through the case, the case being slotted to permit the pin to be shifted, a spring latch disposed between said flange and the corres onding wall and adapted to engage the wal and lock the bar in its shifted position with the bristles projected, the spring being carried by the bar, and means shiftable with the pin but shiftable inward independently of the pin and engaging said spring for depressing the s ring and releasing said spring from its loc ing engagement.

10. A brush of the character described comprising a back having marginal walls, a pair of opposite walls of said back being extended inward and then downwardly toward the back, the last named portions having apertures, bristle holders extending parallel to each other and having pivot means extending through said apertures and said holders having angular end portions, bristles carried by said holder, an operating bar disposed between a downwardly directed flange and adjacent the parallel wall and operatively engaging said angular end portions to cause an oscillation of the holders as the bar is shifted, and means extending through the marginal wall whereby said bar may be shifted.

11. A brush of the character described comprising a back having marginal walls, a pair of opposite walls of said back being extended inward and thendownwardly toward the back, the last named portions having apertures, bristle holders extending par- .allel to each other and having pivot means extending through said apertures and having angular end portions, bristles carried by said holders, an o erating bar extending between a downwar 1y directed flange and the'adjacent parallel wall and operatively engaging said angular end portions of the holders to cause an oscillation of the holders as the bar is shifted, means extending through the adjacent parallel outer wall whereby said bar may be shifted, and holding means disposed between said flange and the adjacent parallel outer wall and resiliently' engaging said bar and outer wall to hold the bar in shifted position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

JAMES FREDERIO CONNOR. 

